How to Prevent Storm Damage to Your Trees

Most storm tree failures are predictable months in advance. Here is how certified arborists reduce the odds a tree in your yard comes down in the next big blow.

The trees that come down in a storm rarely fail at random. In most cases the weakness was visible months, even years, before the wind arrived. As certified arborists who clean up after every major system, we can tell you that the difference between a tree that survives a storm and one that lands on your roof usually comes down to a few maintenance decisions made in calmer weather.

Here is how to give the trees around your home the best possible odds of riding out the next storm.

Prune for Structure, Not Just Looks

Good pruning is the single most effective way to reduce storm risk. The goal is not to thin a canopy until you can see through it, which actually weakens a tree, but to build a sound structure that sheds wind.

• Remove dead, diseased, and broken limbs before they become airborne projectiles.

• Correct co-dominant stems and tight, V-shaped forks, which are the most common failure points in mature hardwoods.

• Reduce end-weight on long, heavy lateral limbs so they flex instead of snapping.

• Never top a tree. Topping triggers dense, weakly attached regrowth that fails easily in wind.

Proper pruning is a job for someone trained. The International Society of Arboriculture publishes homeowner guidance on what quality tree care actually looks like, and it is worth reading before you hire anyone with a chainsaw.

Know the Warning Signs of a Weak Tree

Walk your property a few times a year and look for the red flags that predict failure:

• Leaning that has increased recently, especially with soil heaving or cracking on one side of the base.

• Fungal growth such as mushrooms or conks at the root flare or on the trunk, a sign of internal decay.

• Cavities, seams, and hollows in the trunk or major limbs.

• Dead sections in the canopy while the rest of the tree leafs out normally.

• Roots that have been cut or paved over by recent construction, driveways, or trenching.

Any one of these deserves a closer look. When you are not sure whether a tree is sound, a professional gives you an objective answer and a plan, rather than a guess.